Borneo Epidemiology Journal

Rabies Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review on Safety, Immunogenicity and Booster Recommendations

Mohd Fazeli bin Sazali, Nafsah Dulajis, Puteri Nureylia Amir — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Rabies infection is a serious and fatal disease that disproportionately affects children and low socioeconomic groups. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a preventive strategy to protect high-risk groups. Timely updating recommendations for rabies PrEP are needed, especially to meet the needs of the underserved population. This review aimed to find recent evidence available to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of rabies PrEP of reduced dose and duration; intramuscular (IM) and intradermal (IM) administration; and to assess booster recommendations following rabies PrEP. The literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus was performed from the database for studies in the past five years (1st Jan 2017-30th May 2021). Of 45 studies identified, 15 publications met the inclusion criteria for safety, dosage, immunogenicity and booster recommendations. Most studies identified that the recommended dose and duration is safe and immunogenic for children and adults. Rabies vaccine booster is indicated for occupational exposure. The current recommendation on rabies PrEP is safe for adults and children, and the immunogenicity is not inferior to the 1-dose 3-visit regime, with equivalent effectiveness via both routes (ID and IM).

The Impact of Maternal Nutritional Status on Child Malnutrition: A Systematic Review

Holly Girlchy Jastin, Safirah Jaan Jaafar — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Stunting, underweight, and wasting significantly affect children under five, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Maternal BMI is a key determinant of child nutritional status, as it directly influences fetal growth, breastfeeding quality, and overall maternal health. This systematic review examines the impact of maternal BMI on child stunting and identifies key contributing factors. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web Science Direct, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2000 and 2024. The inclusion criteria were studies on maternal BMI and child stunting in children under five. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment followed the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Ten studies were reviewed. Findings consistently showed significant associations between maternal BMI and child stunting. Low maternal BMI was linked to nutrient deficiencies and higher risks of stunting. High maternal BMI was associated with metabolic dysregulation and inflammation, also contributing to stunting. Socioeconomic factors like household wealth and maternal education were important determinants. Maternal BMI significantly influences child stunting in LMICs. Integrated nutritional interventions addressing maternal nutrition, socioeconomic factors, and regional disparities are essential to reduce child malnutrition. These findings underscore the need for policy-driven interventions that prioritize maternal nutritional health as a key strategy to improve child growth outcomes and break the cycle of malnutrition. Future research should further explore biological mechanisms linking maternal BMI to child health and develop effective, context-specific interventions.

Importance of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP): A Review

Mohd Fazeli bin Sazali — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is one of the essential public health interventions to ensure food safety and quality. Industries' role in adhering to the requirements assures the consumers, which subsequently helps protect public health and the economy. Increasing awareness of the importance of the HACCP is vital to ensure adherence to the HACCP standards. Therefore, this article aims to describe the importance of HACCP. Infectious agent ability; host vulnerability; public awareness; behaviour; methodological advancement; environmental contamination; urbanization and industrialization; and the impact of globalization are among the importance of the HACCP. Adherence to HACCP is indispensable and should be adopted by every level of the food industry to enhance the food safety and quality for the public.

Factors Related to Air Pollution and Impacts on Respiratory Health in Malaysia

Zainib Amirah Anwar, Safirah Jaan Jaafar, Abdul Rahman Ramdzan — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0800

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Air pollution is a major public health risk, especially for respiratory diseases. Urban and industrial areas in Malaysia often have high pollutant levels, increasing respiratory health issues. This scoping review assesses existing literature on factors related to air quality and respiratory diseases in Malaysia.

Objective: This review maps research on factors related to air pollution and respiratory diseases in Malaysia, noting regional air quality variations and identifying areas needing more research.

Methods: We systematically searched databases like ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar for studies published from 2019 to 2024 on air quality trends and respiratory diseases in Malaysia. Data extracted included study design, location, pollutant types, weather parameters, respiratory outcomes, and main findings, synthesized using a descriptive-analytical method.

Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. They found significant links between high levels of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and O3 and increased asthma, bronchitis, and COPD. The Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, and Penang had poor air quality. Air pollution adversely affected respiratory health nationwide. There is a lack of research on rural and remote areas, especially in East Malaysia, and on long-term health impacts.

Conclusion: The review highlights the need for better air quality monitoring and stricter regulations in Malaysia to reduce health impacts. Future research should focus on underrepresented regions and long-term pollution effects, emphasizing comprehensive air quality management to protect public health.

Telehealth Among Elderly During Covid-19: A Scoping Review

Nur Adilah Zainal, Noor Fadzilah Zulkifli — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The COVID-19 pandemic has global impact, especially to vulnerable populations such as elderly. This population may be affected with health issues in which telehealth appears to be a potential platform to improve their quality of life. The study aimed at reporting current literature on the benefits of telehealth among elderly during COVID-19 pandemic. The review emulates the five-phase framework of scoping reviews by Arksey and O’Malley, using three databases: MEDLINE, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. The MeSH term used were (("elderly" OR "older adult" OR "geriatric" OR "aged people") AND ("COVID-19" OR "COVID-19 pandemic)) AND ("telehealth " OR "telemedicine" OR "virtual consultation" OR " teleconsultation" OR "telecare"). A total of 390 articles were screened, of which 21 full-text articles were included. The papers were of systematic or scoping reviews (n=4), cross-sectional studies (n=6), longitudinal cohort studies (n=3), case reports (n=1), randomized control trials (n=1), qualitative studies (n=5) and 1 mixed method study. This review enlightened the role and benefits of telehealth services among the elderly in personal, psychosocial and environmental aspects. The barriers include their physical, cognitive and technical issues which limit telehealth utilization. Thus, recommendations were structured to enhance the efficiency in terms of technologically enabled aspects, patient-related factors, and provider-related factors. A rapid scale-up of telehealth services is significant for the provision of healthcare services among elderly. The accessibility of telehealth must be prioritized for older patients, their caregivers and health care provider to improve the quality of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Exploring The Public Health Consequences of Armed Conflict: A Systematic Review

Veshny Ganesan, Safirah Jaan Jaafar — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Armed conflicts are catastrophic disasters that significantly impact human health and well-being. Current research on the long-term and indirect health effects of armed conflicts is insufficient, and it often overlooks the unique health requirements of vulnerable populations, such as women, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. This systematic review aims to investigate these impacts and identify the distinct health requirements of at-risk groups. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted on studies published in English from 2019 to 2024. We searched databases like Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar using PICO framework. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI appraisal tool. A total of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria, highlighting the notable public health consequences of armed conflicts. Among the included publications, 19 were quantitative studies and three were qualitative studies. Six themes categorized these impacts: health effects, disruptions and shortages in healthcare infrastructure and services, disruptions in food security and malnutrition, environmental health effects, humanitarian crises and displacement, and long-term health outcomes and resilience. The synthesis of existing literature highlights the importance of robust mental health support frameworks, enhanced healthcare access, and integrated recovery strategies that consider social, cultural, political, and environmental factors. Future research should focus on including non-English studies, and improving longitudinal data collection to better understand and address the public health impacts of armed conflicts, informing effective policy and practice.

Factors Influencing Cholera Vaccination Effectiveness In Africa and Bangladesh: A Scoping Review

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Cholera remains a significant global public health challenge, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and water resources. Vaccination plays a critical role in addressing cholera outbreaks, but various factors can influence its effectiveness. This scoping review, with its potential to identify and analyse the key determinants affecting the effectiveness of cholera vaccination campaigns in Africa and Bangladesh, could significantly impact public health policies. The study aims to provide actionable insights into optimising cholera vaccine effectiveness, a goal of utmost importance and relevance to public health. We extensively searched electronic databases to locate relevant studies published from January 2020 to June 2024, ensuring that we included the most recent and up-to-date research. Our search covered databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect. Our specific focus was on primary studies that examined the factors affecting the efficacy of cholera vaccination, particularly in areas where cholera is prevalent. The review encompassed eight articles examining costs, vaccine dosages, booster shots, age at vaccination, timeliness of vaccination, and vaccination coverage. The findings emphasise the importance of these factors in determining vaccine effectiveness and the need for targeted interventions to enhance sustained protection against cholera. Optimizing the cholera vaccine's effectiveness requires a comprehensive approach that addresses cost considerations, adherence to vaccine schedules, precise timing of vaccination, and achieving high vaccination coverage. The insights from this scoping review will inform future efforts in controlling cholera, especially regarding cholera vaccination campaigns.

Distribution and Trend of COVID-19 Cases and Death among Population in Northeast Malaysia in 2021

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The COVID-19 infection has been widely spread since it was first declared as a pandemic in late 2019. The trend of COVID-19 cases and deaths varies across regions. The study sought to describe the distribution and trend of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Northeast Malaysia region for 2021. This cross-sectional study analyzed data on COVID-19 infection cases and deaths in 2021 from the COVID-19 surveillance database (eCOVID system). All confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in Bachok, Kelantan from 1 January 2021 until 31 October 2021 were included in the study. Descriptive analysis of the trend and distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths were conducted using R software. A total of 8384 and 151 COVID-19 cases and deaths were respectively recorded between the study period. Age less than thirty (34%), females (57%), unemployment (44%), clinical category 2 (86%), and unvaccinated individuals (47%) contributed mostly to COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, only the age category of more than 50 (51-60: 22%, 61-70: 30%, > 70: 36%) contributed most to the COVID-19 deaths in Bachok, Kelantan. The COVID-19 cases and deaths peaked in August 2021. The distribution and trend of COVID-19 cases and deaths vary across different sociodemographic categories and echoed the national and global trends, respectively.